Controlled device, controller, information control center, initialization-allowing communication system, and communication control system and medium

ABSTRACT

An initialization-allowing communication system is constituted with devices  70  and  80,  a controller  400  for controlling the devices  70  and  80  through communication, and so on. Each device and the controller  400  are provided with communication means  31,  a house code showing a setting place, a subsystem ID showing the ID of a subsystem in a set system, a device ID showing the type of device, and self-address setting-holding means  11  for holding a self-address constituted with a device number showing a device number and the controller  400  is further provided with system structure holding means  301  for holding the information concerned with the system structure to be controlled and a communication-counterpart-address setting-holding means  401  for setting and holding the address of a counterpart to be communication-controlled obtained from the information concerned with the system structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a controlled device, controller,information control center, initialization-allowing communicationsystem, and communication control system and medium which can be usedfor a communication system in which one device or more and a controllerfor controlling the device or devices are connected to each other by anycommunication means.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Generally, in the case of a system in which one device or more(hereafter, this or these may be merely referred to as a device ordevices) and a controller for controlling the device or devices areconnected to each other by any communication means and controlled byeach other, communication initialization is necessary in order tocommunicate with each other. The communication initialization representssetting the address, number of each device in communication or theaddress number of the device of a communication counterpart to eachdevice. Conventionally, the above setting has been manually andindividually performed when starting a system. Operations of aconventional initialization-allowing communication system are describedbelow by referring to the accompanying drawings.

[0005]FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a conventionalinitialization-allowing communication system. The structure in FIG. 14is constituted with a device 10 and a controller 50, the device 10 andthe controller 50 are connected by a communication medium 20 throughcommunication means 31, and they can be communicated with each other.Moreover, the device 10 and controller 50 are provided with self-addresssetting-holding means 11 for setting and holding the addresses of theirown and communication-counterpart-address setting-holding means 14 forsetting and holding the address of a counterpart to be communicatedwith. Furthermore, the device 10 is provided with control means 15 andthe controller 50 is provided with a button 12 for controlling thedevice 10 and control content generation means 13 for detecting that thebutton 12 is pressed, generating corresponding control contents, andsending the contents to the communication means 31 in addition to thecontrol means 15.

[0006] Operations of the conventional initialization-allowingcommunication system having the above structure are described below.

[0007] For the device 10 and controller 50 to communicate with eachother, it is necessary to set self-addresses of their own and theaddress of a communication counterpart. Therefore, in order to set theself-addresses of the device 10 and controller 50, a user first sets theself-addresses by using the self-address setting-holding means 11. Forthe addresses, an address range or the like is previously specified bycommunication rules. For example, it is necessary that each unit has thesole address determined in a system so that the sole address is anoptional number between numbers 1 and 7 and there is no duplicatenumber. The user sets the self-address of the device 10 to number 1 byusing the self-address setting-holding means 11 of the device 10 and theself address of the controller 50 to number 7 by using the self-addresssetting-holding means 11 of the controller 50 in accordance with theabove rules. The self-address of each unit is determined through theabove operations. Then, the user sets the address of a counterpart withwhich each unit communicates. In this case, because the device 10communicates with the controller 50 and the controller 50 communicateswith the device 10, the user sets the communication-counterpart addressof the device 10 to number 7 by using communication-counterpart-addresssetting-holding means 14 of the device 10 and thecommunication-counterpart address of the controller 50 to number 1 byusing the communication-counterpart-address setting-holding means 14 ofthe controller 50. The communication-counterpart address of each unit isdetermined through the above operations and thereafter, communicationcan be made. That is, when the user presses, for example, the button 12indicating power-on” of the controller 50, the control contentgeneration means 13 of the controller 50 detects that the button 12 ispressed, generates corresponding control contents, and sends thecontents to the communication means 31. The communication means 31transmits the above control contents from the address number 7 to theaddress number 1 in accordance with the contents in the self-addresssetting-holding means 11 and the communication-counterpart-addresssetting-holding means 14. The transmitted control contents reach thecontrol means 15 via the communication means 31 of the device 10 throughthe communication medium 20 and the control contents are executed. Thatis, when the power-on” button is pressed, the power supply of the device10 is turned on.

[0008] To individually control a plurality of devices 10 by onecontroller 50, it is necessary to specify a device to be controlled byusing a control device selection switch 912 provided for the controller50.

[0009] Therefore, to set addresses of air conditioners 1 and 2 as theabove-described initialization, the control device selection switch 912is first set to the position indicating the air conditioner 1, then aseries of setting operations above described is performed to completethe address setting of the air conditioner l. Similarly to the above,the control device selection switch 912 is set to the positionindicating the air conditioner 2 and then, a series of settingoperations described above is performed to complete address setting ofthe air conditioner 2.

[0010] As described above, the conventional initialization-allowingcommunication system realizes mutual communication by manuallyperforming communication initialization.

[0011] Then, a conventional communication control system constitutedwith a device and a controller for controlling the device is described.

[0012] That is, in the case of the conventional communication controlsystem, the contents for the controller to control the device arepreviously set in the controller. Operations of the conventionalcommunication control system are described below by referring to FIG.15.

[0013]FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a conventional communicationcontrol system. The structure in FIG. 15 is constituted with a device 10and a controller 50, in which the device 10 and the controller 50 areconnected to each other by a communication medium 20 throughcommunication means 31 of the device 10 and that of the controller 50 sothat they can communicate with each other. Moreover, the device 10 isprovided with communication means 15 and the controller 50 is providedwith a button 12 for controlling the device 10, key input detectionmeans 811 for detecting that the button 12 is pressed, and controlcontent generation means 13 for generating the control contentscorresponding to the key input detection means 811 and sending thecontents to the communication means 31.

[0014] Operations of the conventional communication control systemhaving the structure are described below.

[0015] When a user presses, for example, the button 12 of the controller50 indicating power-on,” the key input detection means 811 of thecontroller 50 detects that the button 12 is pressed and moreover, thecontrol content generation means 13 generates control contents addressedto the device 10 corresponding to the control content generation means13 and sends the contents to the communication means 31. Thecommunication means 31 reaches the control means 15 via thecommunication means 31 of the device 10 through the communication medium20 to execute the control contents. That is, when the power-on” buttonis pressed, the power supply of the device 10 is turned on.

[0016] As described above, in the case of the conventional communicationcontrol system, control contents corresponding to the case in which abutton is pressed is previously set to control content generation meansin a controller and thereby, a device can be controlled.

[0017] In the case of a conventional initialization-allowingcommunication system, however, it is necessary to manually perform theabove setting as initialization before starting communication. Becausethe above setting operation requires the knowledge of address setting,the operation can be performed only by a person skilled to a certainextent. Therefore, a person in charge of setting work is necessary toset this type of system and therefore, this type of system is notpreferable from the viewpoint of cost and man-hour. Moreover, because itis normally difficult for a housewife, old person, or child to performthe above setting, it is necessary to call a person in charge of workwhenever extending or maintaining a device. Therefore, the system alsohas an aspect of preventing this type of communication device fromspreading to homes.

[0018] In the case of a conventional communication control system, it isimpossible to control the control contents which are not set to theabove control content generation means. This has a problem that, whenthere are a device and a controller for controlling the device andthereafter, a new device having functions higher than those of theformer device is purchased, the controller for controlling the formerdevice cannot control the higher functions of the newly purchaseddevice, that is, the controller cannot correspond to the change ofdevices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0019] It is an object of the present invention to provide a controlleddevice, controller, information control center, andinitialization-allowing communication system and its medium making itpossible to simply perform initialization compared to a conventionalcase by considering the above problems of a conventionalinitialization-allowing communication system.

[0020] It is another object of the present invention to provide acommunication control system and its medium making it possible for acontroller to easily correspond to the change of devices by consideringthe above problems of a conventional communication control system.

[0021] A first invention of the present invention is a controlled deviceto be controlled by a controller, wherein

[0022] an information control center having a data base storing aplurality of pieces of combined information between said controller anda controlled device corresponding to said controller transmits a pieceof combined information to a controller included in the piece ofcombined information in accordance with a transmission request forrequesting the information control center to transmit any one of saidpieces of combined information when receiving said request.

[0023] A second invention of the present invention is a controller forcontrolling a controlled device, wherein

[0024] an information control center having a data base storing aplurality of pieces of combined information between said controller anda controlled device corresponding to said controller transmits a pieceof combined information to a controller included in the piece ofcombined information in accordance with a transmission request forrequesting the information control center to transmit any one of saidpieces of combined information when receiving said request.

[0025] A third invention of the present invention is an informationcontrol center having a data base storing a plurality of pieces ofcombined information between a controller and a controlled devicecorresponding to said controller, wherein

[0026] said information control center transmits a piece of combinedinformation to a controller included in the piece of combinedinformation in accordance with a request for requesting said informationcontrol center to transmit any one of said pieces of combinedinformation when receiving said request.

[0027] A fourth invention of the present invention is a controlleddevice to be controlled by a controller, wherein

[0028] an information control center having a data base storing aplurality of pieces of combined information between said controller andthe controlled device corresponding to said controller transmits saidcombined information to controllers included in the combined informationat predetermined timing.

[0029] A fifth invention of the present invention is a controller forcontrolling a controlled device, wherein

[0030] an information control center having a data base storing aplurality of pieces of combined information between said controller andthe controlled device corresponding to said controller transmits saidcombined information to controllers included in the combined informationat predetermined timing.

[0031] A sixth invention of the present invention is an informationcontrol center having a data base storing a plurality of pieces ofcombined information between a controller and a controlled devicecorresponding to said controller, wherein

[0032] said information control center transmits said combinedinformation to controllers included in said combined information atpredetermined timing.

[0033] A seventh invention of the present invention is aninitialization-allowing communication system comprising:

[0034] a controlled device to be controlled;

[0035] a controller for controlling said controlled device; and

[0036] an information control center having a data base storing aplurality of pieces of combined information between said controller andthe controlled device corresponding to said controller, wherein saidinformation control center transmits a piece of combined information toa controller included in said piece of combined information inaccordance with a request for requesting said information control centerto transmit any one of said pieces of combined information whenreceiving said request.

[0037] An eighth invention of the present invention is aninitialization-allowing communication system comprising:

[0038] a controlled device to be controlled;

[0039] a controller for controlling said controlled device; and

[0040] an information control center having a data base storing aplurality of pieces of combined information between said controller andthe controlled device corresponding to said controller, wherein

[0041] said information control center transmits said combinedinformation to controllers included in said combined information atpredetermined timing.

[0042] A 18th invention of the present invention is a controlled deviceto be controlled by a controller, wherein

[0043] said controlled device is provided with firstfunctional-information holding means for holding the functionalinformation for said controlled device, and

[0044] requested functional information is transmitted to saidcontroller in accordance with a transmission request for said heldfunctional information when the request is sent to said controlleddevice.

[0045] A 19th invention of the present invention is a controller forcontrolling a controlled device, wherein

[0046] said controlled device is provided with firstfunctional-information holding means for holding the functionalinformation for said controlled device,

[0047] the functional information transmitted from said controlleddevice is received in accordance with a request for transmitting saidheld functional information when the request is sent to said controlleddevice.

[0048] A 20th invention of the present invention is a communicationcontrol system comprising a controlled device to be controlled and acontroller for controlling said controlled device through acommunication medium, wherein

[0049] said controlled device is provided with firstfunctional-information holding means for holding the functionalinformation for said controlled device, and

[0050] requested functional information is transmitted to saidcontroller in accordance with a request for transmitting said heldfunctional information when the request is sent to said controlleddevice.

[0051] An invention of the present invention is a medium wherein aprogram for making a computer execute functions of all or some of meansof any one of the above-mentioned inventions is recorded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the initialization-allowingcommunication system of the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0053] FIGS. 2(A) to 2(C) are illustrations showing the self-addressformat of the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0054]FIG. 3 is an image diagram showing the procedure of the firstembodiment of the present invention;

[0055]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the firstembodiment of the present invention;

[0056]FIG. 5 is an illustration showing a display example by the displaymeans of the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0057]FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the initialization-allowingcommunication system of the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0058]FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the initialization-allowingcommunication system of the third embodiment of the present invention;

[0059]FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the communication control system ofthe fourth embodiment of the present invention;

[0060] FIGS. 9(A) and 9(B) are illustrations showing the functionaldescription of the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

[0061] FIGS. 10(A) and 10(B) are communication flowcharts of the fourthembodiment of the present invention;

[0062]FIG. 11 is a display diagram of the fourth embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0063]FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the communication control system ofthe fifth embodiment of the present invention;

[0064]FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the fifth embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0065]FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a conventionalinitialization-allowing communication system; and

[0066]FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a conventional communication controlsystem. [Description of symbols] 10 Device (Controlled device) 11Self-address setting-holding means 14 Communication-counterpart-addresssetting-holding means 12 Button 13 Control content generation means 15Control means 20 Communication medium 31 Communication means 50Controller 62 Communication-counterpart-address obtaining means 90External communication medium 101 Functional description holding means102 Functional description interpretation means 103 Mode switching means104 Display means 110 Functional description development means 201External communication function 200 External communication apparatus 202System structure data base 300 External communication center 301 Systemstructure holding means 400 Controller 401Communication-counterpart-address obtaining- holding means 811 Key inputdetection means 901 Enciphering-deciphering means 903 Terminalcertification means

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0067] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are describedbelow by referring to the accompanying drawings.

[0068] (First Embodiment)

[0069]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the initialization-allowingcommunication system of the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 1, this embodiment is mainly different from theconventional structure described by referring to FIG. 14 in that anexternal communication apparatus and an external communication centerare added to the conventional structure. Therefore, in this embodiment,a component same as that of the conventional example is provided withthe same symbol and its description is omitted. Moreover, a componenthaving no description is assumed to be same as that of the conventionalexample.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 1, the initialization-allowing communicationsystem of this embodiment makes it possible that a first device 70, asecond device 80, a controller 400, and an external communicationapparatus 200 are connected by a communication medium 20 so that theycan communicate with each other. Moreover, the external communicationapparatus 200 is connected with an external communication center 300 byan external communication medium 90 such as a public telephone linethrough external communication means 201. The external communicationcenter 300 corresponding to an information control center of the presentinvention is provided with the external communication means 201 and asystem structure data base 202 and is able to communicate with theexternal communication means 201 of a plurality of externalcommunication apparatuses 200 through the external communication means201. FIG. 1 is an illustration showing that the external communicationcenter 300 connects with one of the certain external communicationapparatuses 200. Moreover, the system structure data base 202 stores aplurality of pieces of combined information between the controller 400and a controlled device (e.g. device 70) corresponding to the controller400. In this case, the above combined information includes thecorresponding information that a control object of the controller 400 isthe device 70 and the information for the self-address of the device 70(that is, the communication-counterpart address of the controller 400).These pieces of information are further described later while referringto FIG. 3.

[0072] Though internal structures of the devices 70 and 80 and thecontroller 400 are the same as those described for the conventionalexample in FIG. 14, the controller 400 of the first embodiment isprovided with communication-counterpart-address obtaining-holding means401 instead of the communication-counterpart-address setting-holdingmeans 14 described for the conventional example and moreover, providedwith system structure holding means 301 for holding a structure of thedevice, input means 411, and display means 412.

[0073] The communication-counterpart-address obtaining-holding means 401is means for communicating with the external communication apparatus 200through each communication means 31 provided for the controller 400 andexternal communication apparatus 200 and moreover, obtaining acommunication-counterpart address from the system structure data base202 in the external communication center 300 through the externalcommunication means 201 provided for the external communicationapparatus 200. Moreover, the external communication apparatus 200 isprovided with the system structure holding means 301. In this case, acontrolled device of the present invention corresponds to the devices 70and 80 and moreover, a controller of the present invention correspondsto the controller 400.

[0074] Operations of the first embodiment of the initialization-allowingcommunication system of the present invention constituted as describedabove are described below and moreover, operations of a controlleddevice, controller, and information control center of the presentinvention are described below.

[0075] A user simultaneously or individually purchases the above devices70 and 80, controller 400, and external communication apparatus 200 froma store (distributor) or the like. In this case, a self-address is setto each device by the supplier such as a store or manufacturing factory.Moreover, the information corresponding to a controller and a controlleddevice to be controlled by the controller is determined.

[0076] In this case, it is assumed that the self-address of the devicepurchased by the user is set by the distributor and moreover, thecombined information including the above corresponding information isentered in the external communication center 300. Therefore, the aboveinformation about devices purchased by each user is sent to the externalcommunication center 300 from each distributor. Moreover, thecorresponding information which device should be determined as thecontrol object of the controller 400 is set by a distributor whileconfirming the intention of a user.

[0077] In this case, it is assumed that a self-address is constitutedwith a house code showing the setting place of each device, a subsystemID showing the ID of a subsystem in a set system, a device ID showingthe type of a device, and a device number showing the number of adevice. In this case, the telephone number of the above user or amember's number provided for the user by the distributor can be used asa house code.

[0078]FIG. 2(A) shows a self-address format. The air conditionersubsystem and the kitchen subsystem set in a house A are examples ofsubsystems.

[0079] Moreover, FIG. 3 shows the above image. The structure shown inFIG. 3 is the same as the structure in FIG. 1 above described andcomponents provided with the same symbol has the function described forFIG. 1.

[0080] That is, in FIG. 3, an air conditioner subsystem 510 and akitchen subsystem 520 are connected in addition to the externalcommunication apparatus 200 and controller 400 as devices connectedthrough the communication medium 20. The air conditioner subsystem 510is constituted with a first indoor unit 500, a second indoor unit 501,and an outdoor unit 502 and the kitchen subsystem 520 is constitutedwith a refrigerator 503 and an electronic oven 504. All these devicesare set in the house A600. Therefore, the above house code serves as acode showing the house A. The self-address of the first indoor unit 500of the air conditioner subsystem 510 is shown in FIG. 2(B) and that ofthe refrigerator 503 of the kitchen subsystem 520 is shown in FIG. 2(C).

[0081] Then, a distributor setting the self-address of each device sendsthese pieces of combined information to the external communicationcenter 300. Then, these pieces of combined information are stored in thesystem structure data base 202.

[0082] That is, in the case of the example shown in FIG. 3, the contentsare stored in the system structure data base 202, that the airconditioner subsystem 510 and kitchen subsystem 520 are connected to thehouse A in addition to the external communication apparatus 200 andcontroller 400, the air conditioner subsystem 510 is constituted withthe first indoor unit 500, second indoor unit 501, and outdoor unit 502,and the kitchen subsystem 520 is constituted with the refrigerator 503and electronic oven 504.”

[0083] Then, operations until the user can control the arranged devices70 and 80 by using the newly purchased controller 400 are mainlydescribed below.

[0084] In FIG. 1, no information is held by thecommunication-counterpart-address obtaining-holding means 401 or systemstructure holding means 301 of the controller 400 immediately afterpurchasing the controller 400. Therefore, even if the button 12 of thecontroller 400 is pressed and the control content generation means 13detecting that the button 12 is pressed generates such control contentsas power-on,” the structure of a device is not held by the systemstructure holding means 301 or a communication-counterpart address isnot held by the communication-counterpart-address obtaining-holdingmeans 401. Therefore, it is unknown at present to which device thecontrol contents indicating power-on” are issued. Thus, it is impossibleto send communication data to the communication means 31 and control anydevice.

[0085] To clarify a device to be controlled by the controller 400, thecommunication-counterpart-address obtaining-holding means 401 mustinquire of the external communication apparatus 200 through thecommunication means 31 and communication medium 20 about a device to becontrolled.

[0086] The opportunity for the inquiry is generated as shown below.

[0087] That is, when monitoring means for monitoring the change ofcurrent values of a power supply line is provided for the power supplyline and a new device is set, the change of slight current values of thedevice is detected and the detection result is sent to the controller400. The controller 400 receives the detection result, decides that anew device is set, and commands the communication-counterpart-addressobtaining-holding means 401 to execute the above inquiry. In addition tothe above method, it is also possible that the controller 400 regularlyperforms the above inquiry or the user gives the designation for startof an inquiry to the controller 400.

[0088] When necessary information is held by the system structureholding means 301 of the external communication apparatus 200, theexternal communication apparatus 200 provides the necessary informationfor the communication-counterpart-address obtaining-holding means 401.However, at this initial stage, necessary information is not generallyheld by the system structure holding means 301 of the externalcommunication apparatus 200. Therefore, the external communicationapparatus 200 is accessed to the system structure data base 202 throughthe external communication means 201, external communication medium 90,and external communication function 201 of the external communicationcenter 300. Moreover, the external communication apparatus 200 refers tonecessary information and provides information for thecommunication-counterpart-address obtaining-holding means 401 of thecontroller 400 and system structure holding means 301.

[0089] The above procedure is described below by referring to theflowchart shown in FIG. 4.

[0090]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the controller 400to correctly perform control when necessary information is provided forthe communication-counterpart-address obtaining-holding means 401 andsystem structure holding means 301.

[0091] That is, as shown in FIG. 4, thecommunication-counterpart-address obtaining-holding means 401 of thecontroller 400 checks if the information for a communication-counterpartaddress is present in the system structure holding means 301 of thecontroller 400 in step 600.

[0092] If necessary information is present as the result of the aboveprocessing in step 600, step 605 is started to set thecommunication-counterpart address and a control object can be controlledin step 606. The above processing is more specifically described belowby referring to the structure shown in FIG.-3.

[0093] That is, as described above, at the initialization stage, if thefact that a control object of the controller 400 is the first indoorunit 500 of the air conditioner subsystem 510 and its self-address isheld by the system structure holding means 301 of the controller 400though these are conditions not normally present, step 600 is completedand step 605 is started to set the self-address of the first indoor unitto the communication-counterpart-address obtaining-holding means 401 asa communication-counterpart address in step 605 and control the addressin step 606.

[0094] In this case, FIG. 4 is described again. Then, unless there isany necessary information in the system structure holding means 301 instep 600, an inquiry is sent to the external communication apparatus 200in step 601.

[0095] When there is necessary information in the system structureholding means 301 of the external communication apparatus 200, theinformation is provided for the system structure holding means 301 ofthe controller 400 in step 604.

[0096] These processings are more specifically described below byreferring to the structure in FIG. 3. That is, it is assumed that thefollowing information is held by the system structure holding means 301of the external communication apparatus 200 as the structure of a systemhaving a house code of the house A. That is, it is assumed that the factthat the structure is constituted with the air conditioner subsystem 510and the kitchen subsystem 520, the air conditioner subsystem 510 isconstituted with the first indoor unit 500, second indoor unit 501, andoutdoor unit 502, the kitchen subsystem 520 is constituted with therefrigerator 503 and electronic oven 504, and moreover the controlobject of the controller 400 is the first indoor unit 500 of the airconditioner subsystem 510 and the self-address of the first indoor unit500 are held as the information for the structure of the system of thehouse A. In this case, the fact that the control object of thecontroller 400 is the first indoor unit 500 of the air conditionersubsystem 510 and information about the self-address of the first indoorunit 500” are provided for the controller 400 as necessary informationout of the system structure information in step 604, and hereaftersimilarly to the above mentioned, the self-address of the first indoorunit 500 is set to the communication-counterpart-addressobtaining-holding means 401 in step 605, and the means 401 is controlledin step 606.

[0097] In this case, unless the above-described information is found inthe system structure holding means 301 of the external communicationapparatus 200 in step 602, necessary information is provided from thesystem structure data base 202 of the external communication center 300in step 603 to perform control in accordance with the procedure same asthe above described. The initialization stage corresponds to the abovecase.

[0098] The processing in the above case is more specifically describedbelow by referring to FIG. 3. That is, system structure informationconcerned with not only the house code of the house A but also all housecodes is stored in the system structure data base 202 of the externalcommunication center 300 as described above. Therefore, whentransmission of the above corresponding information is requested to theexternal communication center 300 from the controller 400, the externalcommunication apparatus 200 retrieves and extracts only the informationconcerned with the house code of the house A out of the correspondinginformation by using the self-address (already set by a distributor) ofthe controller serving as a request source attached to the transmissionrequest.

[0099] Thus, at the initialization stage, it is possible to finally knowa communication-counterpart address by successively following upnecessary information even if the communication-counterpart address isnot set to the controller 400 and make the controller 400 obtain andhold a device which is the control object of the controller 400.

[0100] The above description shows a case of setting acommunication-counterpart address to the controller 400 without usingthe input means 411 or display means 412. Then, a case of using thesemeans is described below by referring to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 shows a displaystate when selecting a control object.

[0101] That is, in this case, though slightly different from theabove-described cases, it is also possible to make the controller 400shown in FIG. 1 display the system structure information on the displaymeans 412 and moreover, select an object to be controlled by thecontroller 400 by using the input means 411.

[0102] In FIG. 5, a selection-allowing list is displayed so as to showthat there are an air-conditioner indoor unit 1 and an air-conditionerindoor unit 2 as devices, which can be controlled by the controller 400.Therefore, the example in FIG. 5 is different from the above example insituation setting. That is, in the case of the above example, whenpurchasing a controller and each device, corresponding informationshowing which device is to be controlled is determined by a distributorand thereafter, the information is used without changing it. In thiscase, however, the air-conditioner indoor units 1 and 2 which can becontrolled by the controller 400 are temporarily determined as the abovecorresponding information and thereafter, a user can select a device tobe actually controlled by the user out of the units.

[0103] However, also in FIG. 5, the point that only the air-conditionerindoor unit 1 is made into the control object of the controller 400 isthe same as the above example. Therefore, in FIG. 5, a state isdisplayed in which only the air-conditioner indoor unit 1 is selectedthrough the operation of the input means 411 by a user. In this case,the selection-allowing list represents that it is a list of deviceswhose power supplies can be turned on by pressing the button 1 of thecontroller 400 as understood from the indication of button 1 power-on”in FIG. 5. Moreover, by displaying individual specific setting placesuch as a living room or bedroom at the right side of the indication ofthe air-conditioner indoor unit 1 or 2 in the selection-allowing list,discrimination is more easily made. However, it is necessary todetermine the setting-place information by the distributor whenpurchasing each device and set the information as a part of self-addressinformation.

[0104] The above processing is specifically performed in the above step605.

[0105] By performing the processing, when purchasing the air-conditionerunits 1 and 2 from a distributor, the corresponding information showingwhich device is controlled by the controller 400 is temporarily set.However, it is possible to thereafter change the information.

[0106] However, when actually controlling a device after acommunication-counterpart address is set to the controller 400, it isnecessary for a user to input the control device selection informationshowing which device is controlled from now to the controller 400. Thecontrol device selection information can be easily input by setting themode for inputting the control device selection information andthereafter, using the input means 411 and display means 412 describedfor FIGS. 1 and 5. However, as already described, a device to becontrolled by the controller 400 is only the air-conditioner indoor unit1. Therefore, in this case, display contents of the display means 412are different from those in FIG. 5 and thus, only the air-conditionerindoor unit 1 is displayed as an air conditioner. Of course, it isneedless to say that the air-conditioner indoor units 1 and 2 can bedisplayed as devices to be controlled when not only the unit 1 but alsothe unit 2 are entered in the controller 400.

[0107] Thus, according to this embodiment 1, it is possible toconstitute the self-address of each device with a house code showing asetting place, a system ID showing the ID of a subsystem in a setsystem, a device ID showing the type of a device, and a device numbershowing a device number, set the self-address when shipping or sellingeach device, and store it in the system structure data base of anexternal communication center. Moreover, it is possible to providesystem structure holding means for an external communication apparatusand a controller, set and hold necessary information to and incommunication-counterpart-address obtaining-holding means when thenecessary information is present in system structure holding means in acontroller and finally obtain the data concerned from the systemstructure data base of the external communication center by successivelyperforming inquiries when the necessary information is not present inthe system structure holding means. Therefore, a user can simply performcommunication initialization. Furthermore, by using the above structure,it is possible to provide an initialization-allowing communicationsystem having a simple structure because it is enough for each systemstructure holding means to hold only the information necessary for eachsystem structure holding means.

[0108] Furthermore, by making it possible to update the system structuredata base of the external communication center by accessing the database from the external communication function and change the systemstructure data base from a place other than the external communicationcenter, it is possible to update the system structure data base from anyplace through the remote control without updating the system structuredata base in the external communication center each time.

[0109] Furthermore, because combined information of the presentinvention includes corresponding information and self-addressinformation in the case of the above embodiment, a case is described inwhich a self-address is provided with a house code for distinguishingbetween houses of users. However, it is also possible to use an IDuniquely provided for each controller to distinguish between acontroller and a device to be controlled by the controller. Moreover, inthis case, when it is possible to distinguish between devices to becontrolled in accordance with specific information for the setting placeof each device such as a living room or bedroom, it is possible torealize the combined information of the present information by using theinformation corresponding between the ID unique to each controller andthe above-mentioned specific-setting-place information. In short, thecombined information of the present invention can use any information aslong as the information shows how a controller and a device to becontrolled by the controller correspond to each other.

[0110] Furthermore, a request for transmitting combined information ofthe present invention is described as an inquiry about a device to becontrolled in the case of the above embodiment. As the opportunity forexecuting the transmission request, a case is described in whichmonitoring means is set to a power supply line. Moreover, when a newlyset device communicates that the device is set to a controller, it isalso possible for the controller to transmit the above transmissionrequest by making the communication an occasion. Furthermore, in thiscase, it is possible for the device to directly transmit thetransmission request to the external communication center 300.Furthermore, it is possible for a distributor to directly transmit thetransmission request to the external communication center 300.Furthermore, it is possible for the external communication center 300 totransmit combined information to a controller at a predetermined timingregardless of presence or absence of the transmission request from anexternal unit.

[0111] (Second Embodiment)

[0112]FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the initialization-allowingcommunication system of the second embodiment.

[0113] This embodiment is constituted by adding enciphering-decipheringmeans for enciphering and deciphering communication contents on theexternal communication medium of this embodiment into the externalcommunication apparatus and external communication center of the firstembodiment. Therefore, in this embodiment, a component same as that ofthe first embodiment is provided with the same symbol and itsdescription is omitted. A component having no description is assumed tobe the same as that of the first embodiment.

[0114]FIG. 6 is an illustration showing a structure constituted byadding enciphering-deciphering means 901 for enciphering and decipheringcommunication contents on the external communication medium 90 into theexternal communication apparatus 200 and external communication center300 in FIG. 1.

[0115] Operations of the second embodiment of an initialization-allowingcommunication system of the present invention thus constituted aredescribed below and simultaneously, operations of a controlled device,controller, and information control center of the present invention aredescribed.

[0116] Though the operation for finally knowing a communicationcounterpart by successively following up necessary information when nocommunication-counterpart address is set to the controller 400 is thesame as the case of the first embodiment, the communication contentsbetween the external communication apparatus 200 and the externalcommunication center 300 are enciphered by the enciphering-decipheringmeans 901. Therefore, even if monitoring the external communicationmedium 90 and looking in communication contents, persons other than theperson who knows how to decipher the communication contents cannotunderstand the communication contents.

[0117] Thus, according to the second embodiment, it is possible todefend the privacy of a user and moreover secure the security becausecommunication contents on an external communication medium is concealed.

[0118] (Third Embodiment)

[0119]FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the initialization-allowingcommunication system of the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0120] This embodiment is constituted by adding terminal certificationmeans for certificating a terminal of the present invention to eachapparatus and device connected to the communication medium 20 of thesecond embodiment. Therefore, in this embodiment, a component same asthat of the second invention is provided with the same symbol and itsdescription is omitted. Moreover, a component having no description isassumed to be the same as that of the second embodiment.

[0121]FIG. 7 is an illustration showing a structure constituted byadding terminal certification means 903 for certificating that the means903 is a proper communication counterpart when communicating with eachother into the devices 70 and 80, controller 400 and externalcommunication apparatus 200 in FIG. 6.

[0122] Operations of the third embodiment of an initialization-allowingcommunication system of the present invention thus constituted aredescribed below and simultaneously, operations of a controlled deviceand controller of the present invention are also described.

[0123] The state for the controller 400 to control the device concernedin accordance with the operations described for the embodiments 1 and 2is the same as the case of the embodiment 3. However, this embodiment 3is different from the embodiments 1 and 2 in that communication on thecommunication medium 20 is formed only between terminals in which it iscertificated that the terminal certification means 903 is a propercommunication counterpart. Therefore, by using the terminalcertification means 903, it is possible to prevent a malicious thirdparty from improperly controlling a terminal on the communication medium20 by using an improper terminal not provided with the terminalcertification means 903. For terminal certification, various methods areconsidered including a method in which each terminal certification means903 has a certain code and a new code obtained through a specialoperation between the certain code and a house code coincides with thecertain code.

[0124] Thus, according to the embodiment 3, because the communication ona communication medium is formed only between proper terminals,radio-wave reaching range is large when using radio for a communicationmedium. Therefore, even when a malicious third party is present at aremote position, it is possible to secure the security including thefact that his improper operation can be prevented.

[0125] The same advantage can be obtained by preparing a medium such asa magnetic recording medium or optical disk recording a program formaking a computer execute the functions (processing contents) of some orall of means (or steps) of any one of the above-described embodimentsand using the medium and thereby executing the operations same as theabove.

[0126] As described above, the present invention has an advantage thatcommunication initialization can be automatically performed withoutparticipation of a user by system structure holding means in acontroller, and communication-counterpart-address setting-holding meansfor setting and holding the address of a counterpart to becommunication-controlled obtained from the information concerned withthe system structure.

[0127] Moreover, by adding an external communication apparatus providedwith system structure holding means for holding the informationconcerned with the system structure of the entire setting place to theabove structure, the present invention can receive only the informationconcerned with a system structure to be controlled by the systemstructure holding means in the external communication apparatus throughthe communication means when necessary information is not held by thesystem structure holding means in the controller.

[0128] Furthermore, by providing a system structure data base forholding the information concerned with a system structure related to allof the above house codes for the above structure and adding an externalcommunication center connected with the external communication apparatusthrough an external communication medium or external communication meanssuch as a public telephone line to the above structure, the presentinvention can receive only the information concerned with a systemstructure to be controlled from the system structure data base in theexternal communication center through the external communication meanswhen necessary information is not held by the system structure holdingmeans in the external communication apparatus. Therefore, the presentinvention has an advantage of making it possible to change objects to becontrolled by a controller even if devices are added or changed.

[0129] Furthermore, the present invention has advantages of making itpossible to provide input means and display means for the controller,access the system structure holding means of the external communicationapparatus and the system structure data base of the externalcommunication center from the controller to make the display meansdisplay the data base, select a proper address by using the input means,and select or change the contents of the addresses of the systemstructure holding means of the controller and thecommunication-counterpart-address setting-holding means, and realizeuser customizing according to the taste of a user.

[0130] Furthermore, the present invention has advantages for making itpossible to update the system structure data base of the externalcommunication center by accessing the data base in accordance with theexternal communication function and change the system structure database from a place other than the external communication center.

[0131] Furthermore, the present invention has an advantage of making itpossible to prevent a third party from stealing a glance at thecommunication contents on the external communication medium by settingenciphering-deciphering means for enciphering the transmission contentson the external communication medium and deciphering encipheredreception contents into the external communication apparatus and theexternal communication center.

[0132] Furthermore, the present invention has an advantage of preventingan improper operation on the communication medium by setting terminalcertification means for forming the communication on the communicationmedium only between proper terminals to the terminal on thecommunication medium.

[0133] Initialization of a communication-counterpart address in acommunication system is described above. Then, embodiments of acommunication control system of the present invention are describedbelow by referring to the accompanying drawings. Hereafter, setting ofcontrol function of each device by a controller after the initializationis completed is described.

[0134] (Fourth Embodiment)

[0135]FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the communication control systemof the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0136] This embodiment is constituted by adding the externalcommunication apparatus and external communication center of thisembodiment to the structure of the conventional example described byreferring to FIG. 15. Therefore, in this embodiment, a component same asthat of the conventional example is provided with the same symbol andits description is omitted. Moreover, a component having no descriptionis assumed to be the same as that of the conventional example.

[0137]FIG. 8 is an illustration showing that a device 100 is connectedwith a controller 400 by a communication medium 20 so that they cancommunicate with each other. Internal structures of each device 100 andthe controller 400 are as described for the conventional example byreferring to FIG. 15 except for the following.

[0138] That is, functional description interpretation means 102 forinterpreting a format statement describing functions of the device 100and setting the contents of the statement to the control contentgeneration means 13, mode switching means 103 for making the functionaldescription interpretation means 102 work, and display means 104 fordisplaying control contents of the button 12 are added to the controller400 of the fourth embodiment.

[0139] Moreover, functional description holding means 101 in which theformat statement describing functions of the device 100 are held isadded to the device 100. In this case, a controlled device of thepresent invention corresponds to the device 100 and a controller of thepresent invention corresponds to the controller 400.

[0140] Operations of the fourth embodiment of a communication controlsystem of the present invention thus constituted are described below andsimultaneously, operations of a controlled device and a controller ofthe present invention are described.

[0141] That is, the functional description holding means 101 of thedevice 100 holds functions of the device 100 and their control contentsand method in the form of a functional description format statement inwhich the control contents and method are classified into an operationrule for specifying a header and functional operation, a controlattribute for specifying the attribute of a button for controllingfunctions, and an operation condition for functions to operate anddescribed.

[0142]FIG. 9(A) shows the form of the format statement. The followingare the functions power-on” and power-off” among the functions of thedevice 100 described in the form of the format statement. That is, theoperation rule for power-on” shows that Functions when the button 1 ispressed. Definition of function is to set the output port 1 to logic‘1’.” The control attribute shows that the size of the button 1 is 7points, the color is blue, and the icon is POWER.ICO. The operationcondition shows that controllable by a body and a remote controller.When power supply is turned on, report to the controller 400.” Theoperation rule for power-off” shows that Functions when the button 2 ispressed. Definition of function is to set the output port 1 to logic‘0’.” The control attribute shows that the size of the button 2 is 7points, the color is red, and the icon is POWER2. ICO.” The operationcondition shows that Controllable by a body and a remote controller.When power supply is turned off, report to the controller 400.” FIG.9(B) shows the above states.

[0143] In the case of this embodiment, it is assumed that theinformation for specifying a communication counterpart such as thecommunication-counterpart address of the device 100 to be controlled bythe controller 400 is already held by the memory of the controller 400in accordance with the method described for the above embodiments. Ofcourse, it is possible for a user or a person in charge of work to setthe information by a conventional method.

[0144] Thus, because control contents are not set to the control contentgeneration means 13 yet when setting of a communication-counterpartaddress is completed, the message no setting” is displayed on thedisplay means 104 for displaying control contents by the button 12. FIG.10(A) shows the above state.

[0145] Therefore, the user then makes the functional descriptioninterpretation means 102 function by using the mode switching means 103of the controller 400. The functional description interpretation means102 sends the transmission request for the format statement offunctional description previously held by the device 100 to the device100 through the communication means 31 and communication medium 20.

[0146] When the functional description holding means 101 of the device100 receives the transmission request through the communication means31, it transmits the held format statement of functional description tothe controller 400 through the communication means 31. The functionaldescription interpretation means 102 of the controller 400 receives theformat statement through the communication medium 20 and communicationmeans 31, interprets the contents, and sets the contents to the controlcontent generation means 13 and also changes the display contents of thedisplay means 104 in accordance with the above contents. FIG. 10(B)shows the display contents after changed.

[0147] When the button 12 of the controller 400 is pressed after set asdescribed above, control corresponding to the fact that the button 12 ispressed is executed in accordance with the contents of the controlcontent generation means 13. The above procedure is shown by thecommunication flowchart of the communication medium 20 in FIG. 11.

[0148] Therefore according to the embodiment 4, it is possible to changethe control contents of the controller later even if devices are changedby describing operations of a device in the form of a functionaldescription format statement classified into a header, operation rulefor specifying functional operation, control attribute for specifyingthe attribute of a button for controlling functions, and operationalcondition for functions to operate and described, holding the formatstatement in the operation description-holding means of a device,transmitting the format statement to the operation descriptioninterpretation means of a controller through a communication medium, andsetting the format statement to control content generation means afterinterpreted.

[0149] Moreover, communication media include such media as weak radio,specific small-power radio, PHS data communication, millimeter waveradio, infrared radiation in the-case of radio communication and suchmedia as optical fiber, coaxial cable, twisted pair wire, and electriclamp wire in the case of wire communication. (Fifth embodiment) FIG. 12is a block diagram showing the communication control system of the fifthembodiment of the present invention.

[0150] For the fourth embodiment, a case is described in which controlcontents by a controller can be upgraded in accordance with upgrade offunctions of a controlled device.

[0151] However, this embodiment purposes a controlled device whosecontrol functions can be upgraded by upgrading the software forcontrolling the hardware of the device without changing hardwarestructures of the device. That is, in the case of this type ofcontrolled device, by purchasing a controller having new controlfunctions for the controller side, it is possible to upgrade thefunctions of the controlled device in software even if the samecontrolled device is used.

[0152] This embodiment is constituted by adding functional descriptiondevelopment means 110 of the present invention to the device 200 of thefourth embodiment and the functional description holding means 101 tothe controller 500 of the fourth embodiment. Therefore, in thisembodiment, a component same as that of the fourth embodiment isprovided with the same symbol and its description is omitted. Moreover,a component having no description is assumed to be the same as that ofthe fourth embodiment.

[0153] As shown in FIG. 12, the device 200 is provided with thefunctional description development means 110 in addition to thefunctional description holding means 101. The functional descriptiondevelopment means 110 has functions for developing the functionaldescription format statement into control functions and adding thedeveloped functions to the control means 15.

[0154] For example, it is assumed that two types of functionaldescription format statements such as power-on” and power-off” are heldby the functional description holding means 101 of the device 200. Inthis case, if a format statement describing a timer function for cuttingpower supply 30 min later is newly added from the controller-500 side inaccordance with a predetermined designation by a user, the functionaldescription development means 110 develops the format statement into afunction and adds the function to the control means 15. Moreover, asanother example, to set room temperature to 25° C., it is assumed that acontroller before upgraded only controls operations of the compressor ofan air conditioner so that room temperature simply becomes 25° C. as thesoftware for realizing that room temperature is set to 25° C. However,it is assumed that an upgraded controller controls not only theoperations of the compressor but also the air flow in accordance withthe difference between set temperature and room temperature. In thiscase, by transferring the upgraded software for controlling roomtemperature from the controller to the air-conditioner device, it ispossible to add a new function to the control means 15. Thus, only byreplacing the controller with an upgraded controller, it is possible tocontrol room temperature more comfortably though the sameair-conditioner device is used.

[0155] To realize the above operation, a condition is necessary that thecontrol means 15 originally has basic capacities for executing addedfunctions and the operation can be realized by combining the basiccapacities or, if a function is described only by software independentlyof hardware structure, the operation is realized by rewriting thesoftware. Because software is generally stored in a storage medium suchas a semiconductor memory or magnetic memory, the above operation can beeasily realized by updating the data in the storage medium.

[0156] The above explanation is more specifically described below. Thatis, in the case of this embodiment, it is assumed that the following newfunctional description is held by the functional description holdingmeans 101 of the upgraded controller 500. The new functional descriptionmakes it possible to execute a new control function by updating softwarefor the above-described device 200 but it is not held by the functionaldescription holding means 101 of the device 200 at present.

[0157] Operations of the fifth embodiment of a communication controlsystem of the present invention thus constituted are described below andsimultaneously, operations of a controlled device and a controller ofthe present invention are described.

[0158] A user sets the controller 500 to the functional descriptiontransfer mode by using the mode switching means 103 of the controller500 and transfers the functional description of the functionaldescription holding means 101 of the controller 500 to the functionaldescription development means 110 of the device 200. The functionaldescription is transferred from the functional description holding means101 of the controller 500 to the functional description developmentmeans 110 through the communication means 31, the communication medium20, and the communication means 31 of the device 200. The functionaldescription development means 110 develops the functional descriptioninto a function and adds the function to the control means 15.

[0159]FIG. 13 shows a specific structure for realizing the fifthembodiment. In the case of the structure shown in FIG. 13, thefunctional description holding means 101 of the device 200 is held by anonvolatile memory 703, the control means 15 and functional descriptiondevelopment means 110 are stored in a ROM 701 in the form of software,and a CPU 700 executes the means 15 and 110. The storage region andbuffer region for actually executed operation results are constitutedwith a RAM 702. Hardware for actually realizing functions is realized byperipheral hardware 705 connected to an I/O port 704. However, by makingthe structure constant independently of devices, it is possible torealize a function not depending on hardware but depending on onlysoftware.

[0160] Thus, according to the embodiment 2, functions of a device can beupdated by only the upgrade of version through communication withoutnewly purchasing a device by providing functional description holdingmeans for the controller, transferring the functional descriptionholding means to the functional description development means providedfor a device through communication, developing the functionaldescription holding means into a function, and adding the function tocontrol means as a new function.

[0161] As described above, the present invention has an advantage ofchanging control contents by changing held contents because, forexample, functional description holding means for describing and holdingthe function of a device is used.

[0162] Moreover, the present invention has an advantage capable ofuniformly describing and explaining functions because the function of adevice held by the functional description holding means is described inthe form of a functional description format statement which isclassified into a header, an operation rule for specifying a functionaloperation, a control attribute for specifying the attribute of a buttonfor controlling a function, and operational condition for a function tooperate and described.

[0163] Furthermore, the present invention has an advantage making itpossible to change control contents by having functional descriptioninterpretation means for interpreting and setting the above functionaldescription.

[0164] Furthermore, the present invention has an advantage making itpossible to update functions of a device by providing functionaldescription development means for the device.

[0165] Furthermore, the present invention has an advantage making itpossible to change functions of a device remotely from a controller byproviding the functional description holding means for the controllerand transferring the functional description held by the functionaldescription holding means to the functional description developmentmeans of the device.

[0166] As described above, the present invention has an advantage thatinitialization can be simply performed compared to the conventionalinitialization.

[0167] Furthermore, the present invention has an advantage that acontroller can easily correspond to the change of devices or acontrolled device can easily correspond to the change of controllers.

[0168] In the above embodiment, a case is described in whichself-address information is included in combined information of thepresent invention. However, instead of the self-address information, itis permitted that, for example, one of pieces of the information showingthe origin and the setting state of a device is included in the combinedinformation. Moreover, among three pieces of the information includingthe self-address information, it is permitted that two optional piecesor all pieces of the information are included. In this case, it isnecessary for the information showing the origin of a device to includethe manufacturer's name of the device, type of the device (e.g. airconditioner, lighting equipment, or television), serial number of thedevice (manufacturing number), model name (product name) of the device,and functions of the device (e.g. in the case of an air conditioner,cooling, heating, and dehumidifying functions). Moreover, it isnecessary for the information showing the setting state of a device toinclude the owner of the device (e.g. elder-brother's personal computeror younger-brother's CD player), setting place of the device (e.g.kitchen, living room, or bedroom), setting area of the device (e.g. thearea of a room in which an air conditioner is set), and nickname of thedevice (e.g. air conditioner No. 1, air conditioner No. 2, or Mr. or Ms.XX' personal computer). Furthermore, it is necessary for the informationshowing the origin of a device and the information showing the settingstate of a device to include a house code respectively.

[0169] Each element in all of the above-described embodiments may beimplemented in software or in dedicated hardware.

[0170] Obviously, the operation of each step or means described in anyof the above embodiments can be carried out by preparing and using arecording medium on which a program to cause a computer to execute allor part of each step or means described in any of the above embodimentsis recoeded.

What is claimed is:
 1. A controlled device to be controlled by acontroller, wherein an information control center having a data basestoring a plurality of pieces of combined information between saidcontroller and a controlled device corresponding to said controllertransmits a piece of combined information to a controller included inthe piece of combined information in accordance with a transmissionrequest for requesting the information control center to transmit anyone of said pieces of combined information when receiving said request.2. A controller for controlling a controlled device, wherein aninformation control center having a data base storing a plurality ofpieces of combined information between said controller and a controlleddevice corresponding to said controller transmits a piece of combinedinformation to a controller included in the piece of combinedinformation in accordance with a transmission request for requesting theinformation control center to transmit any one of said pieces ofcombined information when receiving said request.
 3. An informationcontrol center having a data base storing a plurality of pieces ofcombined information between a controller and a controlled devicecorresponding to said controller, wherein said information controlcenter transmits a piece of combined information to a controllerincluded in the piece of combined information in accordance with arequest for requesting said information control center to transmit anyone of said pieces of combined information when receiving said request.4. A controlled device to be controlled by a controller, wherein aninformation control center having a data base storing a plurality ofpieces of combined information between said controller and thecontrolled device corresponding to said controller transmits saidcombined information to controllers included in the combined informationat predetermined timing.
 5. A controller for controlling a controlleddevice, wherein an information control center having a data base storinga plurality of pieces of combined information between said controllerand the controlled device corresponding to said controller transmitssaid combined information to controllers included in the combinedinformation at predetermined timing.
 6. An information control centerhaving a data base storing a plurality of pieces of combined informationbetween a controller and a controlled device corresponding to saidcontroller, wherein said information control center transmits saidcombined information to controllers included in said combinedinformation at predetermined timing.
 7. An initialization-allowingcommunication system comprising: a controlled device to be controlled; acontroller for controlling said controlled device; and an informationcontrol center having a data base storing a plurality of pieces ofcombined information between said controller and the controlled devicecorresponding to said controller, wherein said information controlcenter transmits a piece of combined information to a controllerincluded in said piece of combined information in accordance with arequest for requesting said information control center to transmit anyone of said pieces of combined information when receiving said request.8. An initialization-allowing communication system comprising: acontrolled device to be controlled; a controller for controlling saidcontrolled device; and an information control center having a data basestoring a plurality of pieces of combined information between saidcontroller and the controlled device corresponding to said controller,wherein said information control center transmits said combinedinformation to controllers included in said combined information atpredetermined timing.
 9. The initialization-allowing communicationsystem according to claim 7, wherein setting-signal transmitting meansfor transmitting a signal indicating that said controlled device is setis included, and said transmission request is sent to said informationcontrol center when said controller receives said transmitted signal.10. The initialization-allowing communication system according to claim7, wherein setting-detecting means for detecting that said controlleddevice is set is included, and said transmission request is sent to saidinformation control center when said detection is performed by saidsetting-detecting means.
 11. The initialization-allowing communicationsystem according to claim 7, wherein said data base includes aself-address constituted with a setting ID code for distinguishingbetween at least setting places of said controller and said controlleddevice and a type and number ID code for distinguishing between thetypes and/or numbers of said controller or controlled device.
 12. Theinitialization-allowing communication system according to claim 7,wherein said combined information is information including theinformation for a system structure of said controller and saidcontrolled device having the same setting ID code, a system structureholding means is included which holds the information showing that saidcombined information is sent to said controller, and said combinedinformation is transmitted from either of said system structure holdingmeans and said information control center when said transmission requestis received.
 13. The initialization-allowing communication systemaccording to claim 12, wherein said data base stores said pieces ofcombined information having setting ID codes different from each other,an external communication apparatus having said system structure holdingmeans and an external communication medium for connecting said externalcommunication apparatus with said information control center areincluded, and information for the system structure to be controlled bysaid controller is received from said data base in said informationcontrol center through said external communication medium unlessnecessary information is held by said system structure holding means insaid external communication apparatus.
 14. The initialization-allowingcommunication system according to any one of claims 7 to 13, whereinsaid controller is provided with display means for displaying theinformation transmitted to said controller and input means fordesignating selection of predetermined information out of said displaycontents, and contents of the address information for the controlleddevice held by said controller are selected and changed by using saiddisplay means and input means.
 15. The initialization-allowingcommunication system according to claim 13, wherein the data base ofsaid information control center can be changed in accordance with theaccess from said external communication apparatus.
 16. Theinitialization-allowing communication system according to claim 13,wherein said information control center and said external communicationapparatus are provided with enciphering-deciphering means forenciphering transmission contents on said external communication mediumand deciphering said enciphered reception contents.
 17. Theinitialization-allowing communication system according to claim 7,wherein terminal certification means for effectuating the communicationon said communication medium only between proper terminals is providedfor said controlled device and/or said controller connected to saidcommunication medium.
 18. A controlled device to be controlled by acontroller, wherein said controlled device is provided with firstfunctional-information holding means for holding the functionalinformation for said controlled device, and requested functionalinformation is transmitted to said controller in accordance with atransmission request for said held functional information when therequest is sent to said controlled device.
 19. A controller forcontrolling a controlled device, wherein said controlled device isprovided with first functional-information holding means for holding thefunctional information for said controlled device, the functionalinformation transmitted from said controlled device is received inaccordance with a request for transmitting said held functionalinformation when the request is sent to said controlled device.
 20. Acommunication control system comprising a controlled device to becontrolled and a controller for controlling said controlled devicethrough a communication medium, wherein said controlled device isprovided with first functional-information holding means for holding thefunctional information for said controlled device, and requestedfunctional information is transmitted to said controller in accordancewith a request for transmitting said held functional information whenthe request is sent to said controlled device.
 21. The communicationcontrol system according to claim 20, wherein said functionalinformation is described in the form of a functional description formatstatement in which said functional information is described by beingclassified into a header, an operation rule for specifying the operationof the function of said controlled device, a control attribute forspecifying the attribute of a button for controlling said function, andan operational condition for said function to operate.
 22. Thecommunication control system according to claim 20, wherein saidcontroller is provided with communication means for performing thecommunication with said controlled device, a button for controlling saidcontrolled device through said communication, control content generationmeans for generating control contents corresponding to said button, andfunctional description interpretation means for setting said controlcontents in accordance with the interpretation of said functionalinformation.
 23. The communication control system according to claim 22,wherein said functional description interpretation means obtains saidfunctional information held by said functional description holding meansof a device through said communication means.
 24. The communicationcontrol system according to claim 20, wherein said controlled device isprovided with functional information development means for developingfunctional information transferred from an external unit into functionsand adding the functions as those of said controlled device.
 25. Thecommunication control system according to claim 24, wherein thefunctional information transmitted from said external unit is stored insecond functional-information holding means provided for saidcontroller.
 26. A medium wherein a program for making a computer executefunctions of all or some of means of claim 1 is recorded.
 27. A mediumwherein a program for making a computer execute functions of all or someof means of claim 2 is recorded.
 28. A medium wherein a program formaking a computer execute functions of all or some of means of claim 3is recorded.
 29. A medium wherein a program for making a computerexecute functions of all or some of means of claim 7 is recorded.
 30. Amedium wherein a program for making a computer execute functions of allor some of means of claim 18 is recorded.
 31. A medium wherein a programfor making a computer execute functions of all or some of means of claim19 is recorded.
 32. A medium wherein a program for making a computerexecute functions of all or some of means of claim 20 is recorded. 33.The initialization-allowing communication system according to claim 8,wherein said data base includes a self-address constituted with asetting ID code for distinguishing between at least setting places ofsaid controller and said controlled device and a type and number ID codefor distinguishing between the types and/or numbers of said controlleror controlled device.
 34. The initialization-allowing communicationsystem according to claim 8, wherein terminal certification means foreffectuating the communication on said communication medium only betweenproper terminals is provided for said controlled device and/or saidcontroller connected to said communication medium.
 35. A medium whereina program for making a computer execute functions of all or some ofmeans of claim 4 is recorded.
 36. A medium wherein a program for makinga computer execute functions of all or some of means of claim 5 isrecorded.
 37. A medium wherein a program for making a computer executefunctions of all or some of means of claim 6 is recorded.
 38. A mediumwherein a program for making a computer execute functions of all or someof means of claim 8 is recorded.